Colorado defeats Vancouver 2-1 in their first home win since April

At the end of the half, a lightning storm hit Commerce City and caused a very long rain delay as lightning began to strike dangerously close to the stadium. All in all, the halftime break lasted an extra 25 minutes before the severe weather finally quelled and the play restarted. The weather break seemed to affect both teams as the play after the elongated break started slow and tentative from both sides before the passing and shots started again.

Casey almost got a brace in the 53rd minute as his shot from the six yard box missed the net by inches and smashed into the backside of the net. Quite literally everybody in the stadium was fooled into thinking it was a goal as the cannon went off and the stadium erupted, taking a couple of minutes to realize that there wasn't actually a second on the board for Colorado.

Of course, it being Scott Palguta, the reason why both of his goals have been game winners is because he's singlehandedly allowed a goal of his own to pass through the Rapids net both times that he's scored one. It took less than ten minutes for Vancouver to finally break down the defense as Vancouver forward Camilo took a pass that went right by an unmoving Palguta and slotted it past Matt Pickens after expertly rounding him. Fortunately for the Rapids, that would be the final goal of the night as they controlled the tempo for the rest of the match even through four minutes of stoppage time.

All in all, it's a win that the Rapids really needed, as I called it the first 'must win' game of the season. The Rapids need to take every point that they can get right now and these games against 'easy' teams need to translate into that. Home form is going to be – as it was last season – the key to the Rapids playoff hopes. The Rapids have two road wins, and in all honesty we can't expect them to get that many more. Right now, the Rapids have 5 out of the suggested 11 points in July and four more games to get the remaining six points. to guarantee that, they're going to need two more wins and the momentum from this game will have to do some of the carrying in that regard.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Conor Casey. The man is on an unbelievable run of form right now and continues to be the best striker on the Rapids. Six goals in seven games is just amazing form for the guy, and he was unlucky to not have two tonight. Add on an assist and you have a brilliant performance by Casey filling in the Captains role and filling it well.